Middle of the Week Recipe

What am I going to cook for dinner?!?!?!?!?
Just like me, I am sure that you get tired of making the same meals over and over again.  Because we primarily eat a plant based diet, it gets hard to come up with dinner meals that make everyone happy.  Okay, so if you know me, you know that I don't really worry about making everyone happy but it is nice when it happens :)  I make one meal every night. If you don't like it there will be another meal in the next few hours.  I wrote a post about feeding my kids a while back.  You can read it here if you are interested.  We have eliminated meat (with the exception of some fish) and dairy from our diet.  If you are interested in why we started eating this way, send me a message :)  That is a whole different blog post!

Sushi rolls.  Without fish. In case you were wondering.

This is one of the easiest meals I make and EVERYONE in my family loves it. When I make this I usually end up rolling the entire package of nori sheets (ten sheets).

I cut up carrots, cucumbers, mango, avocado, cilantro, green peppers and finely sliced ginger (I cut them the size of matchsticks).

I make brown (or white, depending on what I have in the pantry) rice and then let it cool a bit.  I have also substituted quinoa for rice and that is just as yummy although it doesn't roll as tight because it isn't sticky. The white rice is definitely the stickiest and rolls up the tightest.  If this is your first time trying it you might want to go with the white rice.

Set out a nori sheet (dried seaweed) on a cutting board or something that doesn't slip.

Place a row of rice/quinoa along one end of your sheet and then place the veggies (any combination) on top of the rice. Then roll.  I hear at the sushi places they have a sushi roller but I just use my hands and it works pretty well.

I put the rolls in the fridge for a few minutes before cutting them. They seem to slice better once cooled a bit.

Please remember that I am not a chef and not even a great cook :)  Good luck!!!

I serve the rolls with soy sauce and wasabi paste.  The wasabi paste is super duper hot.  My kids put a little on their fingers, taste and then freak out running for the water.
My kids also love edamame as a side to their rolls.  Actually, we love edamame pretty much any time with any meal.

Our favorite combination is the mango/avocado/cilantro. Oh Yum!!!!

For those of you with blogs (you know who you are!) please post yummy recipes.  My kids love to try new things and sometimes I don't have the energy to google another vegan recipe. I just don't.

Happy rolling!
Jennifer

Sunday Hike

As you all know (and are probably tired of hearing), we are thrilled with our new living situation.  Of course in any move, there are always things that you might might miss.  On Sunday mornings, we really miss going to church.  We were blessed to attend a wonderful church with a fabulous pastor and church family.  We attended our little church for about 12 years and I am seriously missing it.  We are still working (although not as hard as we should be) on finding a new church home.  Early Sunday mornings, when it is quiet and I have a moment to think, I get this not so great feeling in the pit of my stomach and I know that we should be getting around for church. However, it hasn't been working that way. Scott usually gets up early and goes to work and the kids and I hang around and have a relaxing breakfast. But it doesn't feel like the right thing to do.  

So, this morning instead of sitting around feeling crummy we (the kids and I) put on our hats, packed up water and snacks, grabbed our bible and headed out on the trail.  We hiked up to Lily Pad Lake, a couple miles up toward Buffalo Mountain.  It was a glorious morning and we had such a great time together.  I realized a couple things this morning out there enjoying nature 1) we will get involved in a church a some point and 2) it doesn't do any good making myself sick about it, I just need to do something.  When we got to the lake, we all plopped down on a rock, had a quick snack and then had a small bible study.  We talked about parables and specifically read the parable of the sower.  I was so amazed at the discussion that the kids had about sharing God's love with others and being kind to others even when no one is watching.  I hadn't planned it but as I started reading the scripture I smiled when the first line read: That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake (Matthew 13:1).  The kids all thought that was cool too. We were sitting by a lake, just as Jesus had been, sharing God's message together.

I hope you all had a great Sunday!

Love, Jennifer

He's back.....

Check out Sam's newest blog post.

The link is on the sidebar.

Goodnight!

Jennifer

Ladybug

Gettin' In the Groove

Well, we are back at it. School, work.......

The kids are happy to be back at school with their friends.
Sam is starting his science fair project. The only requirement is....wait for it.....Change The World.  I know, right.  Go huge or go home.  He and Scott are working on this together.  Read: I am not involved.  At all.

Today, Mason and I biked to preschool. I biked, Mason rode.  We are getting really excited about summer.  I can't wait for hiking, biking, camping, kayaking and just spending time outside with my kiddos.

We have registered Mason for kindergarten. He has started reading easy books and is completely enthralled with easy addition. His teacher feels like he is more than ready. Unfortunately, he doesn't understand why he has to wait until the fall to start.
Hey Mom, what does 1 and 2 make?  
Uh, 3.  
Nope, 12. Get it!!! And then he cracks up.

If you get a chance to play Uno with him, do it. It is hilarious.  He is super strategic and can beat the pants off anyone, even Grandma.

I have made a resolution with myself to start running at least every other day. So far, I have stuck to it but it has only been 5 days.  Scott and I ran together yesterday.  It is so nice to be able to spend some time together and get in a workout.  My only complaint is that he likes to blow his nose farmer style.   Kristin does not blow her nose into the bushes when we run together so she is still my favorite running partner :)

We continue to eat a plant based diet and everyone is feeling great!  Scott is getting super good at making fruit/veggie smoothies.  I am having a blast looking for new recipes.  I am hoping to start posting some yummy, healthy options for dairy free, meatless meals.  If you have any vegan meal ideas, please send them my way!

Working on getting through a huge laundry pile.  I hate laundry. Really. Hate. It.

Happy Wednesday night!
Jennifer

April Showers.....

What?!?!?!?!?!?


I was trying to think of a good weather saying this morning to go along with this post.


April showers bring May flowers.
No.

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
Nope.

It crazy snows just when you least expect it.
Yes!

Thank goodness, we have no where to go because I think it is going to be a hot cocoa kind of day.
I hope the rest of you are enjoying your spring weather.

Favorite Places

We are spending our spring break down in Colorado Springs.  Along with relaxing and hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa, we are hitting all our favorite spots around town.  We have gone to church, visited with good friends, hung out with cousins, hiked at Garden of the Gods and played at Focus on the Family.  Yesterday, we headed to a family favorite, the zoo.  As I was snapping pictures, it occurred to me that one of my very first blog posts was about the zoo. We have spent a lot of time there and have formed a ton of memories.  It is a great little zoo right on the side of the mountain.  If you want to see my original zoo post, click here.  Warning, the kids are much smaller and the Masonator is not pictured :)

Tomorrow we are heading home to the mountains.  Back to life as normal, school, work, etc.

Time for Boys

Two more of my favorite things....

Samuel and Mason.

They weren't quite as willing as their sisters at getting their pictures taken.  As you can see, once Mason had the camera to himself, he perked up and got busy smiling.

Enjoy.

All four of my most favorite things.  

Girls in White Dresses....

Okay so they didn't have blue satin sashes and there definitely were no snowflakes on my lashes but these are still two of my favorite things.  The girls that is.  
Here is the girlie version of Easter morning and tomorrow the boy post.  Hey, four kids.  I can stretch this out to two days, or more if I feel like :)

Grandma Marilyn bought the girls this fabric a couple months ago so I made it into Easter dresses.  Casual Easter dresses are the way to go in our neck of the woods.  They also go so well with toe shoes and chucks.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter and Lenten season!

Last Week

We had visitors.
Scott's brother Matt, his wife Tracy and their three awesome kids Jake, Kelsey and Kate came for a visit.  We stayed pretty busy outdoors.  The kids had so much fun running around, playing with their Michigan cousins.

Thanks Michigan Wescotts for spending your spring break with us!

Check It Out....

There is a new blogger on the scene.  Sam has started his own blog.  He loves to write and take pictures and has been begging me to let him start his own site.  So, here it is....

Sam's Excellent Adventures
www.coloradosam.blogspot.com

Click above or on the sidebar link to check out his new site.  He is a really sweet, super funny, completely awesome kid.  Have fun reading and send him a comment.

Love,
totally proud momma

Guess who came visiting on Sunday morning?

A MOOSE!!!

Okay, now I can stop complaining about the lack of wildlife here in our tiny mountain town.  This female moose made her way behind our house, down the bike path.  Just out for a stroll, I guess.

Too cool.